Bladensburg Dueling Grounds is a small spit of land, a fraction of its original size, along Dueling Creek, formerly in the town of Bladensburg, Maryland, and now within the town of Colmar Manor, just to the northeast of Washington, D.C., United States. Dueling Creek, formerly known as '"Blood Run" and "The Dark and Bloody Grounds", is a tributary of the Anacostia River, which was formerly, called the East Branch Potomac River.
Prince George's County Department of Parks and Recreation
The most publicized duel of the 19th century was that of Commodore Stephen Decatur, the U.S. naval hero, who was mortally wounded in 1820 at the Bladensburg Dueling Grounds and later died at his home in Washington D.C.
Portrait of Francis Scott Key. Key's son, Daniel, was killed, at the dueling grounds, in 1836 by a fellow midshipman from the navy over a disagreement about steamboat speed.
The last recorded duel at the Bladensburg Dueling Grounds was between General A. Galletin Lawrence and Baron Kusserow in 1868.
From 1808 the grove witnessed approximately fifty duels by gentlemen, military officers, and politicians, settling "affairs of honor". A formalized set of rules and etiquette, the code duello was usually enforced by the duelers and their seconds. The exact number of duels and the names of all the participants who fought at Bladensburg may never be known because surviving records are obscure, the events are not well documented - and dueling was illegal.
Following the Civil War, dueling fell out of favor as a means of settling personal grievances and declined rapidly; the last known duel was fought here in 1868.
Notable duels
In 1808, U.S. Representative Barent Gardenier of New York, fought a duel with U.S. Representative George W. Campbell, from Tennessee, resulting from opposition by Gardenier to the presidential administration of Thomas Jefferson backing a trade embargo with Great Britain and France. Gardenier challenged Campbell, and their duel was notable as being the first to be fought on what became the Bladensburg Dueling Grounds. Barent Gardenier was wounded but subsequently recovered and won reelection.
In 1819, Colonel John Mason McCarty killed his second cousin, General Armistead Thomson Mason. McCarty was haunted for years by his experience after surviving the musket duel.
Naval hero Commodore Stephen Decatur was mortally wounded, in 1820, by Commodore James Barron. Where Decatur and Barron dueled is no longer included, within the boundaries of the current Dueling Creek Park.
Congressman Jonathan Cilley, a representative from Maine, was a reluctant participant. In February 1838, Cilley was killed by Congressman William J. Graves of Kentucky. Graves was a stand-in for New York newspaper editor James Webb, whom Cilley had called corrupt. Cilley was inexperienced with guns, and Graves was allowed to use a powerful rifle. A severed artery, in the leg of Cilley, caused him to bleed to death in ninety seconds. This duel prompted passage of a Congressional act of February 20, 1839, prohibiting the giving or accepting challenges to a duel within the District of Columbia.
General A. Galletin Lawrence, U.S. Minister to Costa Rica and Baron Kusserow, Secretary of the German Legation, fought a bloodless duel in 1868, being the last recorded duel fought at the Bladensburg Dueling Grounds.
References
Hauck, Dennis William, Haunted Places, The National Directory
Holland, Barbara, Gentlemen's Blood: A History of Dueling from Swords at Dawn to Pistols at Dusk
Thompson Mason, Armistead, The Bladensburg Dueling Ground (Harper's Magazine)
External links
"Landmarks: The Bladensburg Dueling Grounds".
Dark and Bloody Ground
Denny, George D. (2011). "History of duels, battles and grit determination at the Town of Colmar Manor, Maryland". Town of Colmar Manor.
Taylor, Troy (1998). . Haunted Maryland. Archived from the original on 2010-12-31. Retrieved 2011-03-14.
"Bladensburg Dueling Grounds". The Shadowlands: Famous Hauntings. 2009.
. American Hauntings. Archived from the original on 2010-12-31. Retrieved 2011-03-14.
"Duels and the Bladensburg Dueling Grounds Marker". The Historical Marker Database. 2012.
"Dueling Grounds Historical Marker". The Historical Marker Database. 2012.
"Beyond the Battle: Bladensburg Rediscovered" exhibit at the University of Maryland, College Park
January 27, 2023
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Bladensburg Dueling Grounds is a small spit of land a fraction of its original size along Dueling Creek formerly in the town of Bladensburg Maryland and now within the town of Colmar Manor just to the northeast of Washington D C United States Dueling Creek formerly known as Blood Run and The Dark and Bloody Grounds is a tributary of the Anacostia River which was formerly called the East Branch Potomac River Bladensburg Dueling GroundsTypeCounty park and state historic siteLocationDueling Creek Natural Area Colmar Manor Community Park Colmar Manor Maryland United States formerly the Bladensburg Dueling Grounds in Bladensburg Maryland Coordinates38 55 30 6 N 76 56 25 4 W 38 925167 N 76 940389 W 38 925167 76 940389 Coordinates 38 55 30 6 N 76 56 25 4 W 38 925167 N 76 940389 W 38 925167 76 940389CreatedOctober 15 1966Owned byPrince George s County Department of Parks and RecreationThe most publicized duel of the 19th century was that of Commodore Stephen Decatur the U S naval hero who was mortally wounded in 1820 at the Bladensburg Dueling Grounds and later died at his home in Washington D C Portrait of Francis Scott Key Key s son Daniel was killed at the dueling grounds in 1836 by a fellow midshipman from the navy over a disagreement about steamboat speed The last recorded duel at the Bladensburg Dueling Grounds was between General A Galletin Lawrence and Baron Kusserow in 1868 Notable Bladensburg duelistsDuration1808 1868ParticipantsBarent Gardenier vs George W Campbell 1808 John Mason McCarty vs Armistead Thomson Mason 1819 Stephen Decatur vs James Barron 1820 Daniel Key vs John Sherbourne 1836 Jonathan Cilley vs William J Graves 1838 A Galletin Lawrence vs Baron Kusserow 1868 CasualtiesBarent Gardenier wounded Armistead Thomson Mason killedStephen Decatur mortally woundedDaniel Key killed Jonathan Cilley mortally woundedFrom 1808 the grove witnessed approximately fifty duels by gentlemen military officers and politicians settling affairs of honor A formalized set of rules and etiquette the code duello was usually enforced by the duelers and their seconds The exact number of duels and the names of all the participants who fought at Bladensburg may never be known because surviving records are obscure the events are not well documented and dueling was illegal Following the Civil War dueling fell out of favor as a means of settling personal grievances and declined rapidly the last known duel was fought here in 1868 Notable duels EditIn 1808 U S Representative Barent Gardenier of New York fought a duel with U S Representative George W Campbell from Tennessee resulting from opposition by Gardenier to the presidential administration of Thomas Jefferson backing a trade embargo with Great Britain and France Gardenier challenged Campbell and their duel was notable as being the first to be fought on what became the Bladensburg Dueling Grounds Barent Gardenier was wounded but subsequently recovered and won reelection In 1819 Colonel John Mason McCarty killed his second cousin General Armistead Thomson Mason McCarty was haunted for years by his experience after surviving the musket duel Naval hero Commodore Stephen Decatur was mortally wounded in 1820 by Commodore James Barron Where Decatur and Barron dueled is no longer included within the boundaries of the current Dueling Creek Park In June 1836 22 year old Daniel Key the son of Francis Scott Key was killed in a duel with a fellow Naval Academy midshipman John Sherbourne over a question regarding steamboat speed Congressman Jonathan Cilley a representative from Maine was a reluctant participant In February 1838 Cilley was killed by Congressman William J Graves of Kentucky Graves was a stand in for New York newspaper editor James Webb whom Cilley had called corrupt Cilley was inexperienced with guns and Graves was allowed to use a powerful rifle A severed artery in the leg of Cilley caused him to bleed to death in ninety seconds This duel prompted passage of a Congressional act of February 20 1839 prohibiting the giving or accepting challenges to a duel within the District of Columbia General A Galletin Lawrence U S Minister to Costa Rica and Baron Kusserow Secretary of the German Legation fought a bloodless duel in 1868 being the last recorded duel fought at the Bladensburg Dueling Grounds References EditHauck Dennis William Haunted Places The National Directory Holland Barbara Gentlemen s Blood A History of Dueling from Swords at Dawn to Pistols at Dusk Thompson Mason Armistead The Bladensburg Dueling Ground Harper s Magazine External links Edit Landmarks The Bladensburg Dueling Grounds Dark and Bloody Ground Denny George D 2011 History of duels battles and grit determination at the Town of Colmar Manor Maryland Town of Colmar Manor Taylor Troy 1998 Bladensburg Dueling Grounds Haunted Maryland Archived from the original on 2010 12 31 Retrieved 2011 03 14 Bladensburg Dueling Grounds The Shadowlands Famous Hauntings 2009 Bladensburg Dueling Grounds American Hauntings Archived from the original on 2010 12 31 Retrieved 2011 03 14 Duels and the Bladensburg Dueling Grounds Marker The Historical Marker Database 2012 Dueling Grounds Historical Marker The Historical Marker Database 2012 Beyond the Battle Bladensburg Rediscovered exhibit at the University of Maryland College Park Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bladensburg Dueling Grounds amp oldid 999394639, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
